Spitfire loss in April(?) 1945, Italy.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Spitfire loss in April (?) 1945 in the Libolla-Ostellato area, northwest of Comacchio Lake, Italy.
Pilot said to have baled but chute failed to open.
Any info on this event and details of loss around this date is most welcome.
Thanks
Alex

[Leendert]

Alex,

There's a candidate on the Spitfire production list.

MJ609 Spitfire LFIX. Hit by flak and abandoned 5m NW of Ostellato, 20-4-45.
No Squadron mentioned, just MedAAF.

Regards,

Leendert

[Larry]

Air Britain says this aircraft was from 7 Sqn SAAF, based at Ravenna and equiped with Spitfire IX at this time.

[Henk Welting]

Capt B. GUEST (SAAF) PoW; no PoW-info available. (Source: 85 Years of SAAF - Winston Brent).
Regards,
Henk.

[stefaan]

Yes.
Guest flew under Potter as leader from 7 sqdn on 20 April 1945.
They were bombing two AFV's when Guests a/c was hit by what might be debris from a bomb explosion in front of his a/c.
He baled out while his a/c fell into a canal. He was seen to get up and hide his chute.
P 434 Eagles Victorious. martin and Orpen.
Stefaan Bouwer.

[Alex Smart]

Hello All,

Thank you all for this info.
I will forward it on to my contact soonest.

Alex

[micky]

Thank you Alex, Thank you Stefaan, the Spitfire found by my friends look just Guest's spitfire, just aside of a canal! The site is few km southeast of Rovereto and just west of Libolla. Sonn as possible i'll post some pics. I have another question: i'm looking for infos about Lt. I.J. Gow, shot down on 28 february 1945. Does anyone know the exact location of the crash? Voctorious Eagle say "Vegliano", but south of Reggio there is NOT a town with that name! Thanks in advance